Laundry marking machine



May 17, 1949.

w. J. KEUPER 2,470,622

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1o, 1944 May 17, 1949. w. J. KEUPER 2,470,622

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1944 6 Sheets- Sheet 2 g WILL-IBM J. KEUPER May 17, 1949. w. J. KEUPER .2,470,622

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1o, 1944 e sheets-sheet s lo O C@ www Xi E f .-'WLLIAM .K UPER.

May 17, 1949. w.,J. KEUPER 2,470,632

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 17, 1949. w. J. KEUPER 2,470,622

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0, 1944 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 WIALUAM .KEUPER May 17, 1949. w. J. KEUPER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 10, 1944 nd u i IW M .www

Patented May 17, 1949 LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE William J. Keuper, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The National Marking Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 10, 1944, Serial No. 548,863

(Cl. 10i-94) 8 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvemen-ts in laundry marking machines and, more particularly, to improvements in the laundry marking machine disclosed and claimed in my pending applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 463,082, iiled October 23, 1942, upon which patent, No. 2,370,735, was issued on March 6, 1945, Serial No. 470,052, filed December 24, 1942, upon which patent, No. 2,384,035, was issued on September 4, 1945, and Serial No. 529,882, iiled April 5, 1944, now Patent Number 2,443,426, issued June 15, 1948.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide a laundry marking machine of simple, compact and inexpensive construction, by means of which a number of identifying characters may be printed upon articles to be laundered, or other material, held upon the platen of the machine by the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for controlling the movement of the platen, on which the article to be marked is held, toward the type located at printing position, to take an imprint therefrom upon said article.

A further object of my present invention is to provide, in a laundry marking machine having a platen-carrier rockable from normal to printing position, improved means for limiting the movement of the platen-carrier from printing to normal position, .and simple releasable devices Iby means of which the platen-carrier can ybe released to swing forwardly beyond the normal position, for purposes of inspection or repair.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of operation, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by the devices `and means described in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional View of a laundry marking machine embodying my invention, taken in a plane just inside the left-hand side member of the frame.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the platen-carrier,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base of the machine, and the parts mounted thereon, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional View through the platen and the platen handles, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view through the platen-carrier, ltaken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail, sectional view of the releasable means for retaining the platen-carrier from movement forward from normal position, taken on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken on the line B-S of Fig. 3, showing the latch shaft.

Fig. 9 is a View of the latch in side elevation.

Fig, 10 is a view of the latch in front elevation.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal, sectional view through the electro-magnetic valve controlling the admission of iiuid pressure to the platen-actuating means, and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric and pneumatic circuits for controlling the means for raising the platen toward the type.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

My invention is embodied in a laundry marking machine which includes a type assembly adapted to locate printing type at printing position, a platen-carrier movable from a normal to a printing position and return, a platen slidably mounted on the platen-carrier, and means for moving the platen toward the type, when the platen-carrier is in printing position, for `the purpose of carrying an article, held on the platen by the operator, against the type to take an imprint therefrom. One feature of my invention consists in providing improved means for controlling the movement of the platen toward the type. The platen-carrier has a cylinder mounted thereon in which a piston worm, and the platen is secured to this piston. The platen is moved toward the type by admitting fluid pressure to the cylinder to move the piston and platen toward the type against the pressure of a spring, which normally moves them away from said type. The admission of fluid pressure to said cylinder is controlled by an electro-magnetic device, such as an electro-magnetic valve, and the circuit for said device includes a switch, which is engaged and closed, when the platencarrier is in printing position, by an element mounted on said platen-carrier and moving with it. Said circuit may also include a pair of switches mounted in the handles of the platen, which are adapted to be held closed by the operator while she holds the article to be marked on the platen.i Thus, fluid pressure will not be admittedto' the cylinder to move the platen toward the type until the platen-carrier is in printing position, and the operator has closed the switches in the handles, which makes sure that her hands will not be between the platen and the type.

Another feature of my invention consists of improved means for releasably holding the platen-carrier against movement forwardly from its normal position, which may consist of a pair of links pivotally mounted on the frame of the` machine and having means for limiting their piv'tal'movement with respect to the frame, in one? direction. A bar is iournaled in the free ends of these links and guide rods pivotally connectedlfto the platen-carrier may be slidably mounted in: said bar. Heads secured to said guide rods engage this bar and normally prevent-movement of the platen-carrier forward frornits normal position. A latch shaft is provided, journaled in the frame and having a latch-,thereon which is yieldingly held in engagement with the bar and, thus, prevents the forlwardlmovement of said bar and holds the platen-carrier against movement forward from its'nor-malposition. This latch shaft may be rocked, to cause the latch to disengage the bar, andeun'der such circumstances, the platen-carrler maybe moved forward from its normal position for purposes of inspection or repair.

Referring to .the numbered parts of the accompanying drawingsI have shown a laundry marking machine including a type assembly adapted'fto'locate printing typeat printing positient/which type assembly is substantially identical'with that shown in'my said pending application, Serial No. 529,882. The machine has `a, base-8, 'from which the frame side members 9 extend=upwardly- Secured to said frame side membersg-f; or integral therewith, are housing Side members I -and the edges of the housing I4 are seated thereon. As shownin Fig. 1, this housing is cut away, at I5, adjacent the printngfipositiomand theupper portion of the housingtlisv valsovcutaway to permit the setting wheels tolprojecttherefrom. The housing side members I0-have their -lower edge portions curved inwardly-,zas at I 6, adjacent the printing point. The-side members I0 are connectedv by the spacing `barszlfl, and the parts I0 and I4 constitute a. housing carried by .the frame and enclosing tliev` type wheel-s, the setting wheels and the intermediate gearing.

A horizontal yshaft 'I8 `is mounted in the housing-side `members Ill, and extends transversely of-the housing. A plurality of type wheels I9 are journaled on said shaft I8, parallel to each other, and each of these type wheels has on its periphery-a plurality of spaced printing type 2li.k These type wheels may be lightened by forming the slots 2| therein, a few of which arer-shown-in Fig. l. A gear 22 is fastened to thetside-ofeach type wheel I9, coaxial there- With.- A horizontal shaft 23 is mounted in the housingside members Il] and extends transversely of the housing. A plurality of gears 24 are-journaled `on shaft 23, there being one of them for each of the type wheels, and each of said gears is in line with and meshes with gear 22 of the corresponding type wheel.

A horizontal setting wheel shaft 26 is mounted in the upper portion of the housing, being supported by the housing side members IU, and a plurality of setting wheels 21 are journaled on said shaft, parallel to each other, with their peripheral portions projecting from the upper portion of the housing through an opening formed therein for that purpose. There is one of these setting wheels for each of the type wheels, and each setting wheel bears, on its periphery, indicia, 28, in the form of characters corresponding to the characters on the printing type 2U, and arranged on the setting wheel in the same angular relation to each other as are the corresponding printing type on the type wheel. A gear 29 is fast to each setting wheel 27 and coaxial therewith, and each of said gears meshes with the corresponding one of the intermediate gears 24. Gears 22 and 29 have the same number of teeth, so that a given angular movement of a setting wheel will produce the same angular movement of the corresponding type wheel. In this way, the type wheels may be adjusted, to bring selected type to printing position, by rotational adjustment of the setting wheels, in either direction.

Arms 30, secured to the side members I0 of the housing, support a sighting bar 3|, which extends across the peripheries of the setting wheels 2, in front thereof, and has a sight aperture 32 therein, through which the indicia on the setting wheels may be viewed by the operator from the front of the machine. This sighting bar is so located, and the indicia are so placed on the setting wheels, that, when certain characters are Visible through the sight aperture 32, the type wheels I9 will be adjusted so that the printing type having the same characters will be aligned at printing position.

To provide for locking the type wheels and setting wheels in adjusted positions, and for releasing them to permit their adjustment, as well as to align the type wheels with selected printing type at the printing line, I have provided an aligning mechanism which comprises a horizontal aligner shaft 34, supported by the housing side members It. One end of this shaft projects through one of the side members and may have an operating handle (not shown) secured thereto, for convenience in rocking the shaft. An aligner frame is provided which includes hub portions secured to the shaft 34 and rearwardly projecting arms 3S. In each of the arms 38, there is formed a threaded-socket into which a threaded stud II is screwed. A block 45 is mounted on each stud 4I, between the head 43 thereof and a collar 44 pinned thereto, and an aligning bar 46 is supported by and extends through these blocks 45. Said aligning bar is of such length as to extend across the entire set of gears 24, and the blocks 45' are so located with respect to the gears as to. rit between certain of them, when the aligning bar is in engagement with the teeth of said gears. Thus, it will be seen that, when the aligning bar is in engaging position, it engages between teeth of all of the intermediate gears 24 and prevents movement of type wheels I9 and setting wheels 2T. The shaft 34 can be rocked by its handle to throw the aligning bar to the disengaging position, in which the gears 24, setting wheels 2'I and type wheels vI9 are released and free to rotate.

To provide for yieldingly holding the aligning bar in either engaging or disengaging position, spring toggle mechanism is provided which comprises a pair of bell cranks 41, journaled on hub extensions of the side members l0, concentric with shaft 35. The rearwardly extending arm d8 of each bell crank has a notch 49, which receives the stud 50 projecting laterally from an arm of the aligner frame, so that said bell cranks are rocked as the frame is rocked to move the aligner bar from one position to the other. The downwardly extending arms of said bell cranks are forked, and each of the fork arms 52 has a notch 53, in the lower end thereof, receiving a stud 51| projecting from a pin block slidably mounted on a post 58. Members 59 are journaled on hub extensions of side members l0, concentric with shaft 23, and have shouldered portions 51 from which the posts 53 project. Springs 59 are mounted on said posts and compressed between the shouldered portions 51 and the said pin blocks 55.

Type cleaning rollers are provided in front of and behind the printing line, which is indicated by the arrow running from the reference character A, and engaging the faces of the printing type on type wheels i9, so that, when said type are moved from the printing position, in either direction, they will pass a cleaning roller and the ink will be removed therefrom before said type move above the horizontal plane including the axis of the type wheels. Each of these type cleaning rollers comprises a cylinder 'lil mounted on a pintle 1| and having a felt covering 15. The roller thus constructed is drawn toward the axis of the type wheels by springs engaging heads 11 on rods which carry the ends of said pintles. Each type cleaning roller may be enclosed within a casing |08.

The platencarrier, the mounting for the platen thereon, and the means for moving the platen to and from the type, are substantially the same as disclosed in my said application, Serial No. 470,052. A bearing pin l2 (Figs. 2 and 3) is secured by the set screw |3 in a bracket il projecting upwardly from the base 3 of the machine. The spaced hubs 33 of the platen-carrier are journaled on the projecting ends of the bearing pin l2, in bushings H3 carried by the latter. These hubs are connected by the cross member |'|2 forming part of the platen-carrier. Sockets 25 formed in the platen-carrier receive the reduced ends 35 of posts 33, which project upwardly through openings in the cylinder base 31. Said posts are secured in sockets 25 by the pins l id. A cylinder wall 39 is mounted on the base 3l', the lower edge thereof being received in an annular groove lle, formed in the top surface of said base. The reduced upper ends 55 of said posts extend through openings in a cylinder head t?. and are secured thereto by the pins B0. Said head il?. has an annular groove 22|, which receives the upper end of the cylinder wall 39. Thus, the cylinder is made up of the cylinder wall 39, the base 31, and the head 42, all held together by the posts 35 and mounted on the platen-carrier A piston B works within the cylinder 39 and a spring 35 is interposed between piston 53 and head 132, and tends to move the piston away from said head. The lower end of the spring is seated in an annular groove 51 formed in the upper surface of piston 6A, and the upper end of said spring is seated in an annular groove 63 formed in .the lower surface of head 42.

Vents 99 are provided in the upper portion of the cylinder wall 39. A piston rod 10 is slidably mounted in a passage 12 formed in the head 42, and has a reduced portion 13 which extends through the piston lili and through a leather washer 8|, the whole being secured together by a nut 82 screwed on tne threaded lower end of the piston rod. A bracket Iil has a depending threaded stud 85, which is screwed into a threaded socket 83, formed in the upper end of the piston rod 10, whereby said bracket, piston rod and piston are secured together. A platen 9|, provided with a handle |39 at each end thereof, is secured to the bracket iilfl by the screws |09, and a platen insert 5|, of rubber or like resilient material, is inserted in a recess in the upper surface of said platen. rThe article to be marked is to be held on this platen insert 6| by the operator, while gripping the handles |33 for rocking the platencarrier from the normal to the printing position and returning it therefrom. Posts |06 are secured to the platen 9| and project downwardly therefrom through bushings |01 mounted in openings provided in the head 42. These posts serve to help in guiding the platen for movement relative to the platen-carrier and the cylinder. One of these posts is provided with a passage l for receiving the electric cable |09, by which the circuit leads are carried to the switches mounted in the handles |36, to which referen-ce will be made hereinafter. A passage ||0 (Fig. 5) is formed in the platen, through which the wires can extend from the passage to the switches.

An upwardly opening port ||5 (Fig. 6) is formed in the cylinder base 31, within the connes of the cylinder wall 39, and connected by a passage ||6 to an elbow ||1, the latter being connected by a tube ||8 (Fig. 2) to an elbow H9 screwed into a plug |20, which is rotatably mounted within a recess |2| in one end of the bearing pin l2. Elbow ||9 communicates with an axial passage |22 in the plug |20, which is in line with an axial passage |23 in the bearing pin l2. The plug |20 is provided with external oil grooves |24 to assist in making a seal between the wall of the plug and the wall of recess |22'. An elbow |25 is screwed into the other end of the bearing pin |2 and communicates with passage i23. Said elbow |25 is connected by tube |26 to a coupling member |21 (Fig. 3), which is connected with the outlet of an electro-magnetic valve, indicated generally at |28. This valve controls the admission of fluid pressure to the cylinder to operate the piston against the pres sure of spring 05, the fluid pressure passing through the tube |20, passage |23, passage |22, tube i3, passage I6 and port |'|5 to the interior of the cylinder, below the piston B.

A casing 62 is secured to platen 9| by screws |29, and encloses the ends and front of the platen-carrier and the parts carried thereby. A guard B3 is secured to the rear side of the platen by screws |30, and extends downwardly and is then curved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.

Upwardly and rearwardly extending posts B6 have their lower reduced ends received in sockets |3l in the platen-carrier 33, and they are secured thereto by the pins |32. A casing 18 is mounted on the upper ends of these posts, said casing having bosses |33 connected by a flange |34, and the posts 6B having reduced upper ends |35, received in sockets in said bosses |33, and secured thereto by the pins |31. This casing is hollowed out to form a trough |38, open at the top, and

which receiveslan ink-ing roller. rI'fhe. end walls of this `=casing-.have rectangular notches 19 (Fig. 16) yfor-med therein, in which the heads .86 of pins I-'39lare sli-dablyrimounted. .Said pins have reduced ends |40 (Fig, 15)., which are slidably mounted in -the casing `"|18v and springs I4| are interposed Ybetweenithe heads |39 and a .portion of the casing. yThe reduced ends |40 of the pins xproject below :the lower portion of the casing andfnuts |42 are secured on the threaded lower ends thereof.

The .inkingroller includes a cylindrical core |45, Whichzhaspins |44, secured thereto and projecting from the .ends thereof, journaled in lbushings carriedaby the heads 80. Said core |45 has va felt covering comprising a yplurality lof felt rings Illimounted upon it. This inking rollerfis mounted in the casing 'i6 and pressed resilienftly by springstoward the type. This casing Iand inking roller are so located with respect :to the platen-carrier that, as the platen-carrier is `:rocked from .normal to printing position, the inking roller will roll over the faces of type that havebeen brought .to the .printing line. When the'eplaten-.carri'er :is -in normal position, the ink- :ing roller will .be located slightly in front of and free yof any .t5/ipe and, of course, as the platencarrier is Jrocked from printing to normal position, the inking roller will again roll over the faces-of the type.

bracket 84 (Fig: l16) is secured by bolt 86 tothe rear face of casing 18. A screw 81, having fan enlargedhead 69, ris screwed into said bracket :and held in adjusted position by a lock nut 90.

This screw -81 -is so adjusted that, when the Y platen-carrier is in printing position, the head 89 will have engaged and closed an electric switch mounted on the base of the machine. This Iswitch fis yindicated generally at |41 (Fig. 3) and has a :plunger |48, which is engaged by the head 89,fto close the switch, asindicated by dotted lines .in Fig. l.

Two pairs of lears |49 are provided, projecting rearwardly from the platen-carrier 33, and the head 'I 5| of a guide rod |152 is pivotally connected between [the ears of each pair by a pivot pin |50. The -rear ends of these guide rods are slidably mounted in enlargements |53 of a transverse bar |54, vNuts |55, secured on the rear ends of the guide rods |52,` limit the forward movement of said guide :rods with respect to the bar |54, and springs v|56 are compressed on said guide rods vbetween the heads and said enlargements |53 ofthe bar |54. Links |51 (Figs. 1i and 7) are pivotally mounted by pins '|59 on brackets |58, secured to the base 8. of 'the machine, and each of lthe ylinks |51 has a shoulder |50 adapted to engage the base `8 to .limit the pivotal move- .ment of said link in one direction. The transverse bar |54 has reduced ends |6| (Fig. 4), .journaledin 'bushings in links |51, and nuts |62 screwed on 'the threaded ends of said bar retain it in position in said links.

A j-ack lshaft Y|63 (Fig. 8) is secured in bearing |64 (Fig. 3) extending upwardly from the base 8, and .alatch |65 is journaled on shaft |63 and provided witha hook portion |66, so located as to engage an .intermediate portion oi the bar |54, between the guide rods |52. A lever |61 is secured to one end of latch shaft |64a, which is journaled in bearing A|6411 and has one end secured to the .hub of latch |65, and provided with anopera'ting handle or knob |69, Aby means of which the 4shaft may be 'rocked to withdraw the latch |65 from engagement with 4bar |54. A

spring |69, connected :at :one end to a lug |10 on the latch |55, and at the other end to a bracket I1| secured to the base 8, .normally draws the latch forward so that the hook portion |66 will engage the =bar I 54. The operator may withdraw this latch from engagement by rocking the shaft |64a, aga-inst the tension of spring |69.

Referring to Fig. 13., it will be seen that, with the latch |65 in engagement with bar |54, links |51 are held with their shoulders |60 in engagement with the base of the machine and the bar |54 may be :considered as stationary. When the platen-carrier 33is rocked rearwardly from normal to printing-position, springs |56 will .be compressed between the heads |5| and the enlargements l|5301? bar |54, until the axis of pivots crosses the line between the axis of bar Y| 54 and the axis of the bearing pin I2, and, thereafter, the springs will expand and 4assist in .moving the platen-carrier -to the -printing position. It is .to be understood that the operator initiates the movement of the platen-carrier from normal to` printing position by pushing rearwardly on the handles 36, and thatthe springs |56 complete this movement to printing position. The operator initiates the movement of the platen-carrierirom printing to normal position. by pulling forwardly on the handles |36 and the springs |56 are compressed until the axis of pivots |50 crosses the .line between the axis of bar |54 and the axis of the bearing pin I2, and, thereafter, the springsv |56 expand and complete the .-movement of the platencarrier to the normal position.

When it is desired to movethe platen-carrier, and the parts mounted thereon, forwardly from the normal position, as, for instance, when it is desired .to inspect or repair the parts or adjust the inking roller or screw 81, the operator may rock shaft |63 counterclockwise (Fig. 3) by means of handle |66, -thus withdrawing latch '|65 from engagement with bar |54 and `permitting links |51 to pivot about. their .pins |59, sothat the platen-carrier may be moved .forward from the normal position.

The construction ofthe electro-magnetic valve, indicated generally at |28, is best shown in 'the sectional view, Fig. 11. An outlet ,passage V|12 is .formed in the valve body, with which the coupling |21 for line |26 connects. An inlet .passage I13, formed 'in the valve body |28, is connected with the tube |14, which leads to avsource of fluid pressure (not shown). A valve seat |15 is located between the inlet passage |13 and the outlet passage |12, and a valve member |16, having a valve insert |11, 'is so located that said valve insert may engage the seat |15 to cut off communication between the Iinlet and outletpassages. Valve member |16 has a stem |18 s'lidably mounted in .a socket |19 formed in the valve body, and is pressed upwardly toward the valve seat |15 byspring |86. A plunger 4lill is'slid'a'bly mounted vin the valve body |28 and has a longitudinal passage |82 therethrough, which communicates with the atmosphere and forms an exhaust passage. Said Yplunger extends through a cap |84, secured to the valve body |28, and has ashoulder |83, between which and the valve body there is compressed a spring |85, which tends to move the plunger away from the valve insert |11. rIhe solenoid |86 of this electromagnetic valve, indicated diagrammatically` in Fig. 12, when energized, moves an armature |81 against the outer end of plunger |8|, so asvto force said plunger inwardly, thereby depressing the valve lmember |16 and vopening communica.-

tion between the inlet and outlet passages At the same time, the exhaust passage |82 is closed, since it is sealed by the engagement of the end of plunger |9| with the valve insert Thus, it will be seen that this is a three-way valve and, when the solenoid |99 is deenergized, communication is cut off between the inlet |73 and the outlet |12, and the outlet |12 is connected with atmosphere through the exhaust passage |92. On the other hand, when the solenoid |86 is energized, communication is established between the inlet passage |73 and the outlet passage |72, and the latter is cut oi from the atmosphere since exhaust passage |82 is closed.

The control circuit for the electro-magnetic valve |28 is shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 12. Lines |88 and |99 are connected to a suitable source oi electric current, not shown. Line |88 is connected to one terminal of the solenoid |86, and the other terminal of the solenoid is connected by lead |99 to the switch |41, already referred to and shown generally in Fig. 3. This is the switch which is closed by the movement of the platen-carrier to printing position. The contact |9| of switch |47 is connected by lead |92 to the contact |93 of a switch |94, mounted in one of the handles |36 of the platen. Switch |94 is connected by lead |95 to switch |96, mounted in the opposite handle |39 of the platen. The contact |91 for switch |99 is connected to line |89. Fluid pressure will not be admitted to cylinder 99, through electro-magnetic valve |29, to move the platen toward the type and take an imprint therefrom, until solenoid |85 is energized, and this requires the closing of the three switches |41, |94 and |99 on their respective contacts. As already stated, switch |4'| will be closed when the platen-carrier is in printing position and the operator must hold the switches |94 and |96 closed by gripping them, as she holds the article to be marked upon the platen. This is a Safety feature which prevents the operator from getting her hands between the platen and the type, and gives her ready control over the movement of the platen toward the type. Repeated movements of the platen toward and from the type, to effect repeated impressions on the article, may be secured by alternately releasing and gripping one of the switches |94, |96, to open and close the circuit to solenoid |96.

Details of switch |4'| are not shown, as it may be of any well-known construction, closed by relatively slight movement of the plunger |48. The switches |94 and |99 may be oi similar construction. These are best shown in Fig. 5 and V each of them includes a lever |99, pivoted at |99, and pressed outwardly by a spring 299 away from the plunger 29|. As shown, these switches |94 and |99 are mounted in recesses 222 in the handles |36, with the lever |99 projecting slightly beyond the normal contour of the handle. When the operator presses in on the lever |99, as she grips the handle |39, it will move inwardly against the pressure of spring 299 depressing the plunger 29|, and thereby closing the corresponding switch upon its Contact.

Ink is supplied to the inlring roller |46 from an inking pad 98 that is adjustably mounted on the frame, and with which the inking roller cooperates when the platen-carrier is in printing position.

I am aware that the particular laundry marking machine disclosed herein may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit oi my invention and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen-carrier rockable from normal to printing position and return, a platen slidably mounted on said platencarrier and on which an article to be marked is adapted to be held by the operator, fluid pressure means for moving said platen toward type at printing position to take an imprint therefrom, an electro-magnetic device controlling said fluid pressure means, an electric circuit including said device and a source of electric current, a switch in said circuit, and means adapted to close said switch upon movement of the platencarrier to printing position.

2. In a machine oi' the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen-carrier rockable from normal to printing position and return, a platen slidably mounted on said platencarrier and on which an article to be marked is adapted to be held by the operator, fluid pressure means for moving said platen toward type at printing position to take an imprint therefrom, an electro-magnetic device controlling said fluid pressure means, an electrical circuit including said device and a source of electric current, a switch in said circuit, means adapted to close said switch upon movement of the platencarrier to printing position, and means adapted to be actuated by the operator, while holding an article to be marked on said platen, for closing said circuit when the platen-carrier is in printing position.

3. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platen-carrier rockable from normal to printing position and return, a platen slidably mounted on said platencarrier and on which an article to be marked is adapted to be held by the operator, uid pressure means for moving said platen toward type at printing position to take an imprint therefrom, an electro-magnetic device controlling said fluid pressure means, an electric circuit including said device and a source of electric current, a switch in said circuit, means adapted to close said switch upon movement of the platen-carrier to printing position, and a pair of switches included in said circuit and adapted to be closed by the operator while holding an article to be marked on said platen.

4. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination oi a platen-carrier movable from a normal position to a printing position and return, a cylinder carried by said platen-carrier, a piston working in said cylinder, a platen secured to said piston, slidably mounted on said platen-carrier and on which an article to be marked is adapted to be held by the operator, means for admitting uid pressure to said cylinder, an electro-magnetic valve controlling said means, an electric circuit including said electro-magnetic valve and a source of electric current, a switch in said circuit, and means adapted to close said switch upon movement of the platen-carrier to printing position.

5. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, thecombination of` aA` platencarrier movable 'from a normalV position to' a printing position and return,.a'cylinder carried by said platen-carrier, a piston working in said cylinder, a platen secured to said piston, slidably mounted on said platen-carrier and on which anA article to be marked is adapted to beheld by the operator, means for admitting'luidpressurek to said cylinder, an electro-magnetic valve controlling said means, an electric circuitincluding said electro-magnetic valveA and a source of electric current, a switch in said circuit, means adaptedto close said switch upon movement of the platen-carrier to printing position, andV means adapted to be actuated by the operator, while holding an article to bemarkedA on said platen, for closing said circuit when the vplaten-carrier is in printing position.

6. In a machine of the class described including a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination of a platencarrier movable from a normal position to a printing position and return, a cylindery carried. by said platen-carrier, a piston working in said cylinder, aiplaten` secured to saidpiston; slidably mounted on said platen-carrier andonwhich an article to be marked is adapted to be held by the operator, means for admitting luid pressure to said. cylinder,. an electro-magnetic valve controlling said means, an electric circuit' including saidelectro-magnetic Valve and a source of electric current, a switch in said circuit, means adapted to'close said switch upon movement of theplaten-carrier to printing position, and a pair of switches included in said circuit and adapted to be closed by the operator while holdingk an article to be marked on said platen. l

` 7. In a machine of the class'described lincluding a type assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination'oic a frame, a platen-carrier mounted on said' frame and rockable from normal to printing position and return, a pair of links pivotally mounted on said frame; means for limiting the pivotal'movement of said links in one direction, a bar journaled in said links, aguide rod pivotally connected to said .platen-carrier and slidably mounted `in said bar, ahead secured tothe end of said rod remote from said platen-carrier, a'- latch shaft journaled in said frame, a latchv nxed to said shaft and adapted to engagefsaid bar to hold said links against pivotal movement in either direction, and means for rocking said latch shaft to remove the'latch from engagement with said bar.

8. In a-machine of the class described including atype assembly adapted to locate type at printing position, the combination oi a frame, aplaten-carrier mounted on said frame and rockable from'normal'to printing position and return, a pairwof links pivotally mounted on Said frame, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said linksin'one direction, a bar journalcd in said links, a guide' rod slidably mounted in vsaid bar 'and pivotallyconnected to said platen-carrier, aspiing' on said guide rod interposed between a Shoulder ythereon and said bar, a latch shaft journaled in: said frame, a latch fixed to said shaft-and-fadapted to engager said bar to hold said link` against pivotal movement in either dir'ection,.aspring holding said latch inengagement Withsaid bar, andineansf forfrocking said latch shaft to" remove" said latch from engagement with` r said bar.

lWILLIAM J. KEUPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of4 this' patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS `Number Name- Date '881,012 Lewis Mai'. 3, 1908 907,577 Diehl Dec. 22, 1906 908,847 Dixon Jari. 5, i909 944,742 Munk Dec. 28, 1909 1,059,657 Canine Apr. 22, 1913 1,183,605 Toddv May 16, 1915 11,650,068 Griesbaum Nov. 22, 1927 15,715,556 Jenner June fl, 1929 v1,925,236 Doyle Sept. 5, 1933 1,935,194 Wilsey Nov. 14, 1933 121,370,735 Keupe'r Mar. 5,1945 2,384,035 Keuperl Sept. 4, 1945 

